John 17:1-5

1. The prayer of Jesus has three parts: the first, a prayer for Himself, John 17:1-5; the second, a prayer for His disciples, John 17:9-19; and the third, a prayer for all subsequent believers, John 17:20-24. John 17:6-8 form a transition passage between the first petition and the second, and John 17:25-26 are a kind of conclusion.

2. The petition for Himself is that He may be glorified. The meaning of δόξασον in John 17:1 is to be understood of that glory which is connected with the return of Jesus to His Father, and which is more particularly set forth in John 17:5. It was by means of this glorification that He would be enabled, in connection with the sending of the Spirit and the greater power which would be exerted for the advancement of His kingdom upon the earth, to accomplish the purpose indicated in the ἵνα clause the glorification of the Father upon the earth, in accordance with the measure of the Divine gift of power over all flesh which was bestowed upon Him. To realize the fulfilment of all that was involved in this gift, so that eternal life should be given absolutely to all whom the Father had given to Him, it was necessary that He should pass away from the limitations of His earthly condition to the heavenly state. The hour for this departure from earth to heaven having now come, He prays for the realization of the heavenly glory.

3. In John 17:4-5 this glory is spoken of as that which Jesus had with the Father before the existence of the world. He prays to be restored to His former glory. The end in view is that mentioned above; but what the glory referred to is, is now more definitely stated. The ground, also, is presented on which it is asked for: because, through the accomplishment of His work, Jesus has already glorified the Father on earth. He has finished the task assigned Him, and now, when the appointed hour arrives, He asks for the reward.

4. John 17:3 gives a definition or explanation of the meaning of eternal life. This life is the knowledge of God and Jesus on the part of the soul of man which is, in one aspect of it, the idea that is everywhere set forth in this Gospel as belonging to these words. There can be no doubt that John views eternal life as a peculiar kind of life it is the life which consists in the knowledge of God, the light-life, the life which resembles God's own life, and which is entered by faith. But the adjective eternal does not seem to be applied to it for the reason that it is the light-life, etc., but because, when it is once possessed by the soul, it never ends. The definition is introduced here in connection with the words of the preceding verses. To give eternal life, it is necessary to give the knowledge of God and of Christ. To give this knowledge to the “all” spoken of in John 17:2, without exception and in its fulness, it is necessary that Jesus should be glorified.

5. The fifth verse distinctly declares the pre-existent state of Christ and His glory in union with the Father in that state. No other legitimate interpretation and explanation of the words can be given. 6. The prayer of Jesus for Himself is evidently not made for the purpose of securing simply a reward or blessedness for Himself, but with a view to the glorifying of God in the accomplishment of the great mission which had been assigned to Him. The work of the Messianic kingdom was not yet completed. It was only the work of His earthly life that was done; and He prays for what is beyond this life, to the end that the glory of the Father, which has already been partially secured, may be completely secured that is, that the kingdom may be fully established.